Friday letters: Climate rhetoric, research monkeys, food industry

Whole Foods Market believes consumers have the right to know how their food is produced and this includes whether or not it contains Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs. Here a store employee scanes non-GMO products for ordering at the downtown store in Austin. (McClatchy-Tribune News Service).

Photo: Ralph Barrera, MBR

Climate rhetoric

Regarding "Exxon Mobil" (Page D1, Tuesday), as a former ExxonMobil employee, it heartens me to see all of the recent press about ExxonMobil's firm stance in favor of a revenue-neutral carbon tax. Indeed, I joined the company in August 2007 and they had developed that policy position earlier that year. I would not have joined the company had they not taken that position.

Climate change is a real risk and one that I applaud U.S. Chris Gibson, R-N.Y, and 11 Republican co-sponsors in the House for recognizing in a recent resolution they introduced.

We need to get beyond the "kill the economy or kill the planet" rhetoric about climate change and start talking market-based solutions - Exxon already has. Will Congress join them?

Peter Bryn, Houston

Research animals

Regarding "'Smoking gun' alleged in animal cruelty probe" (Page B3, Monday), anyone who is an advocate for animal welfare should be made aware of the claim of animal abuse at the UTMB and lab.

Monkeys, sentient and feeling creatures, were intentionally infected with a deadly virus similar to the Ebola virus and then were left alone in their cages to suffer and endure a painful death instead of being euthanized.

This alleged abuse is cruel and unconscionable, by either a scientist or a veterinarian. George B. Shaw said it best when he said, "Atrocities are no less atrocities when they occur in laboratories and are called research."

Elaine Hutzelman, Houston

Truth in labeling

Regarding "Food industry pushes to halt GMO labels" (Page D1, Wednesday), the "food industry" is supporting a provision for voluntary labeling of genetically modified foods in a "massive' spending bill. This issue is too important to become law by tacking it on to a spending bill. It should be a stand-alone bill that will pass or fail on its own merits.

The "food industry" reminds me of a bunch of immature teenagers fooling around and saying "Hey, what could possibly go wrong?" It's my health they are fooling with, and I am not willing to let them do it without a warning label.